Anissa Rivera: Salsa judge Susie Frias-Gonzalez a chip off the old block

Frias-Gonzalez, 49, of Covina, has been concocting salsas since she was 12.

"My parents Pedro and Juanita taught me to follow our wonderful Mexican traditions, so as young as 12 years old, I already knew how to entertain my whole family with food," she said. "I would watch my mom cook every day. My grandmother owned a restaurant in Mexico City. My mom and my aunts were the waitresses. "

Frias-Gonzalez soon became the go-to cook for any family celebration, cooking her specialties such as carnitas, chile rellenos, red and green mole, nopalitos, sopes, enchiladas and green chile, or suiza. Last year, she won first place in the green medium salsa division at the Oxnard Salsa Festival. (But her recipe for red salsa is also a family treasure!)

Frias-Gonzalez will judge a salsa contest (the food kind) during the ICA Catholic School fiesta and artwalk this Cinco de Mayo weekend, May 3 to 5, at Annunciation Catholic Church, 1307 E. Longden Ave., Arcadia. Admission is free and the salsas will be hot.

There will also be a bake-off as well as an artwalk featuring artists, sculptors and designers. Guests can also enjoy themed entertainment, rides, games, bingo and, of course, food.

Frias-Gonzalez, a parishioner at Annunciation, said she will judge the entries according to taste, freshness and presentation.

"When I was starting out, the mistake I made was using an improper balance of ingredients," she said. "Now I tell (other salsa makers) you have to make your salsa hot, however just hot enough to enjoy and keep people wanting more. "

For a kid-friendly salsa, Frias-Gonzalez said she doesn't skip the chiles for her sons, Joseph, 14, and Alex, 12. She just puts in less, "and I tell kids just try a little at a time. "

Frias-Gonzalez has other specialties too, such as vacalado, a fish dish, and small shrimp patties in mole with romeritos (spinach). Her biggest fans, of course, are her boys, and her husband Esteban.

"We always look forward to any family gathering," Frias-Gonzalez said. "My mom Juanita and my grandmother Connie were always the entertainers before, and now I've taught my family members many of their recipes. They call me and ask me how to make a dish and I guide them through it. Hopefully, we can keep our family recipes and traditions going throughout the years to come. "

For fiesta times and more information, visit icafiesta.org or call Ray Aguirre 626-482 "'2146 or Jimmy Obailles at 626-226 "'6495.